Paul Esswood, Countertenor, Handel, O Lord Whose Mercies Numberless

[agdhani]

My favorite version of this aria...so very lovely!

[velvetcaress]

So very beautiful. Could never tire of this version. :)

[PrimaRagazza]

Really beautiful :) 

[serenaluce]

@PrimaRagazza I agree. Paul Esswood is one of my favourites, one of the greatest countertenors ever! So, happy boxing day to you and me:-)

[PrimaRagazza]

@serenaluce happy boxing day! i think Esswood has a particularly rich, expressive voice & what better way to unwind post-Christmas .. i do love this aria although i hadn't heard this interpretation before now :)

[serenaluce]

@PrimaRagazza I think it's one of the most beautiful pieces of music every written! Even for the genius of Handel. I've discovered Esswood for myself exactly on this channel in this aria, but I can't find that version anymore. Esswood is unbelievable in it, and nobody's interpretation I've heard so far is even close:-). Well, don't know if he really "owns" this aria, but he's made it heavenly and incredible!:-)I also admire such great English CTs as Bowman,Chance, Brett! And you?

[PrimaRagazza]

@serenaluce I agree about the aria .. for me, Handel is the greatest composer for the human voice ever! I find Scholl's version slightly more to my taste, although his voice is less expressive and full than Esswood's. I don't know that many English CTs but it would be a shame not to mention Alfred Deller whose interpretations of Purcell are unequalled so far in my opinion! And he had a very natural-sounding alto quality too :)

[serenaluce]

@PrimaRagazza It's so interesting to exchange opinions on YT, but sorry "Deller's interpretations of Purcell are unequalled" is very controversial as I personally can't stand his timber and Oberlin's though they used different technique but both sounded just like cats pulled by the tail to me:-).But it's a matter of taste, and I respect them for drawing people's attention to CT singing.Esswood is MUCH better:-).Also I just bought Purcell's songs in Taylor and Bowman's versions.That is BEAUTY!:-)

[PrimaRagazza]

@serenaluce Ah, maybe that was an exaggeration! Possibly both Deller and Oberlin use much more "chest" sound in their blend than many others. Although very skillful, I can understand why this timbre might not appeal to everyone - altho Deller seems to have the softer timbre of the two. Personally, I think Daniel Taylor has the most gorgeous voice so I certainly agree with you on that one! :)

[serenaluce]

@PrimaRagazza Well, maybe:-)I don't know if Deller sounds softer to me,but perhaps less of a "cat":-)Concerning the most gorgeous voice it's always an exaggeration too as every true artist finds his or her own colours in the same stuff:-)But for me the warmest, most gorgeous CT voice is Nicholas Spanos!:-) And very close to him another very warm, sensual, enchanting Jose Lemos!:)...On that CD"Here let my life"Taylor and Bowman sing Sound the trumpet much more beautiful than Deller with his son:)

[serenaluce]

It's funny: on Christmas I remembered exactly this Esswood's piece and last night I listened to it on my CD in Handel's Saul, and today you uploaded it:-). Great music, great Esswood! What else to say?:-). Merry Christmas and boxing day for Great Britain and Canada!:-) Thanks for uploading.

[Nibelungenfrau]

superb...! how wonderful videos you always have!!!! Incredible. Thanks sooo much by heart.